Let The Truth Override Tensions & Concerns Of Any Situation

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘(21) My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; (22) they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck’ (Proverbs 3:21-22)

There is a lot of tension in our nation and in our world, and for good reason. Within our nation we see the tension, some of it stirred up by the illicit actions of instigators, some by the circumstances and beliefs we hold challenged through a change in attitudes. Around the globe, those same tensions exist, and wars and rumors of wars flare up then cool down, only to repeat in a cycle of anxiety and relaxation.

Here in southwest Florida, the concern of war may not be as strong as what is felt in eastern Europe or in the Middle East. The fear of rioting in our neck of the woods is likely limited to watching two elderly women in the grocery store playing tug-of-war with the last box of fried chicken. Nevertheless, we have had protests, several in the last two months, in our local communities, thankfully peaceful and without incident.

But those riots in our big cities, the wars elsewhere in the world, and even the battle for the chicken in the grocery store all affect us (especially if you had ‘fried chicken’ on your menu). In our minds, we draw conclusions, sometimes without all the facts or underlying causes known. We draw from our feelings and biases and from that become emotionally attached to one side or the other. Our perceptions of a given situation overtakes the factual basis of the situation.

Proverbs 3:21-22, though, tells us to use wisdom – namely God’s wisdom – to base our judgements on. Seek the underlying Truth and don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the emotional charge of the moment. Instead, be pragmatic and seek the answer to that all-important question, ‘why’? Sometimes our train of thought is not always going to right destination.

Never underestimate the power of a question. It’s good to ask yourself the five ‘W’s’; Who, What, Why, Where, and When. (There’s an ‘H’ you can add as well, the ‘How’.) Before getting on the bandwagon, ask yourself: Why is it popular? Where will this lead? What will be the result? Who will this benefit? When will this occur? Compare these and reference Scriptures, and reveal the Truth. This will determine the path you need to follow, and it may not always be the one that the majority (or the loudest minority) is following.

These are emotional times, and as I’ve mentioned before, when things get emotionally charged we must look at things pragmatically with facts, while using common sense and step away from our feelings long enough to determine a proper course of action.  We often strongly react to those who do not share our opinion, or to those events that we see as detrimental or opposite of what we think should happen.  We also do the wrong things to send a signal to others, ‘we’re cool!’, when in fact we’re wrong or have been duped.    

There are currently those who are saying, “‘you need to think THIS way’ or ‘you can’t be doing THESE things’, or you’re just politically incorrect.”  Before taking action, we first need to look at Jesus and the example he presents, and the examples that our in our Bible.  Jesus, while on Earth, was very politically incorrect, but always factually correct and on the side of Truth. 

He was baptized by his ‘radical’ cousin, John the Baptist. In the outside of the traditions of Judaism in His day, Jesus talked to Gentiles and women not related to Him. In opposition to what the Pharisees believed in the Levitical Law, He performed miracles and picked food on Sabbaths. Jesus was considered a heretic when He countermanded the Pharisees and the Jewish leadership on doctrine.  Jesus knew that there are times when popular opinion (at least opinions advertised as such) is not always correct, proper, or Godly.

In following Jesus, we must focus on His wisdom and guidance when we are confronted with those who would say we must follow the crowd, or else.  We must use the common sense the Lord has given us to overcome emotions and fear to do the right thing, and stand upon Godly principles.  Don’t kneel for a man or for men or act to gain favor to them; only kneel to Jesus Christ, and act only to benefit the Cause of Christ.